JACKSON, Miss. – Hollywood screenwriter and Mississippi native David Sheffield, who happens to be working on a sequel to the 1988 hit film “Coming to America,” is the featured guest on Conversations airing at 5:30 p.m. June 24 and 10 p.m. June 28 on MPB Television.
Host Marshall Ramsey interviews Sheffield about his impressive career that began as a writer for “Saturday Night Live” penning classic Eddie Murphy sketches such as James Brown’s Celebrity Hot Tub Party, Buckwheat and Gumby.
“My dream was to be a writer on that show,” said Sheffield, who worked at SNL from 1980-1983. He left to pursue Hollywood. Fortunately, several projects were collaborations with Murphy. “Everything you gave him, he made it that much funnier,” he said. Sheffield’s film credits include “Coming to America,” “Boomerang,” “The Nutty Professor” as well as “Nutty Professor II: The Klumps.”
Sheffield resides in Laurel but grew up on the Gulf Coast. He graduated from Biloxi High School and is a 1972 alumnus of the University of Southern Mississippi, where he taught screenwriting courses. During those classes, students got a crash course in writing, pitching and receiving critiques of their scripts. “One of the most annoying things about being a screenwriter is you never get compliments,” Sheffield told Ramsey.
He was inducted into USM’s School of Mass Communication and Journalism Hall of Fame in 2008. Earlier this year, a play he wrote and directed called “The Heartbreak Henry” premiered at The Center Stage Theatre in Biloxi.
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Mississippi Public Broadcasting provides relevant instructional and public affairs programming to Mississippians through its statewide television and radio network. MPB enhances the work of educators, students, parents and learners of all ages by providing informative programming and educational resources. MPB’s locally-produced programming focuses on the people, resources and attractions that reflect Mississippi’s unique culture and diverse heritage. Children’s television programs constitute a major portion of the daytime and weekend morning schedules. MPB provides a valuable resource to Mississippians in disseminating information as part of the state’s emergency preparedness and response system. Since 1970, MPB has won over 350 national, regional and statewide awards, including Emmy®, Edward R. Murrow and Parents’ Choice® Awards.
